AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Last time he changed the subject to the indictment. That’s the last thing I wanted to talk about. I’m growing more frustrated by the day. I have no answers from Nonno and I’m not entirely sure my woman is okay.
“Enough,” I mutter to myself. I may not be able to get what I came here for, but I can find out what’s going on with Car.
I pull my phone from my pocket. At first, I go to call Dante, but I remember he’s not in Jersey and hasn’t been for weeks. He wouldn’t know what’s going on with Carleen any more than I would.
I close out of his contact and go to call Gio instead. He will know what’s going on. Carleen has mentioned more than once that Jace has been the one to make sure she gets home safely.
I’m grateful to my brother for that. It has gone a long way to put my mind at ease.
“I was just about to call you,” Gio says in greeting.
“Oh yeah? What’s the matter?”
It’s clear in his voice he’s frustrated. My mind goes straight to Carleen. I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to her.
“I’ll call you back in two.”
He hangs up and I get really worried. I don’t think I breathe fully until my phone rings. I answer and try to remain calm.
“I have news on the shooting. Our brother’s problem is raising its head. The hit at Nonno’s came from rumors of Dante not handling business with that family. They say we’re showing weakness.
“It’s falling on you. They don’t think you’re ready. That’s not good. I need them focused on your strength. The New York and Jersey mess can’t touch Italy. Not now.”
“Am I clear to come home?”
“No. You need to stay where you are.”
I start to think it over. Dante should be the one to handle this. However, knowing what happened to Bethany was partially my fault, I want to be the one to handle it.
“Have Dante clean up his own shit. This motherfucker has been skimming from us like we’re his personal bank. It stops now,” Gio says as if reading my mind.
I groan. “Gio, do we really want to send him back there? He’s been so much happier since Bella was born, and he hasn’t had to become that other guy.”
“Dario, they made an attempt on your life. On Nonno’s property at that. If our allies are questioning us enough to allow this. It needs to be handled and Dante should be the one to do it. Talk to him, maybe he’ll send Mitch.”
“You and I both know he won’t. I’ll take care of it.”
“Good.”
“Have you seen Carleen? Is everything okay with her?”
“Jace says she’s fine. I can go check on her this week if you want me to.”
“Apollo sounds off, like he’s keeping something from me. If you can just look in on her for me. Thanks, man.”
“I’ll talk to Apollo and look in on her. The numbers look great over there. She’s been earning better without you.”
“Fuck you, Gio.” I give a dry laugh.
“I’ll have to talk to her and give her some options. She can totally run a place on her own.”
“I’d choke the shit out of you.”
He laughs on his end, and it makes me smile. Gio doesn’t laugh the way he used to. A lot changed after Ma.
“Gio, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
“Yeah?”
“What’s up with you and Papa Esposito?”
He scoffs. “That cocksucker tried to take everything from me. I’m just returning the favor. I’m going to make him eat the shit he created. Call Dante, I need to go.”
I sigh as the call ends. That’s more than I thought I’d get from him. I rub my temples and think over all he said about Dante’s situation. I know what I need to do. I read between the lines.
I take a deep breath and resolve myself to the fact that although I won’t be promoted to Don, I’m still an underboss with responsibilities.
Someone made an attempt on my life, so someone is comfortable with targeting the heads of my family, that’s unacceptable. They have no respect for the rules or for my family. I fume as the phone rings and the seriousness of all this sets in.
Dante’s line picks up and I release a breath through my nose. “Hello, can I call you back?”
“No, I need to talk to you now,” I say tightly, the more I think about the shooting and Nonno having to come to my rescue the hotter I get.
“Excuse me.” I hear him say away from the phone.
“Who are you with?”
“Lizzy, we were watching TV. What’s going on?”
“Did you hear about the shooting?”
“What the fuck? No. I’ve been traveling. Mitch didn’t say anything.”
“I was fired on here at Nonno’s. Your old friend has been digging in our pockets and it’s making me look like a chump.”
